New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
Source and transport of trace metals in the Hatea River catchment and estuary,
Whangarei, New Zealand
JENNY G. WEBSTER
School of Environmental and Marine Sciences
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92 019
Auckland, New Zealand
email: j.webster@auckland.ac.nz
KEVIN L. BROWN
Department of Geology
University of Auckland
Private Bag 92 019
Auckland, New Zealand
KERRY S. WEBSTER
Institute of Environmental Science and Research
Private Bag 92 021
Auckland, New Zealand
Abstract A survey of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, and As concentrations in
bed sediment, fresh waters, storm waters, and suspended particulate matter
(SPM) has been undertaken in the Hatea River catchment, Whangarei, New Zealand.
The most recently deposited sediment in the Hatea River estuary has elevated
levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn, derived from tributaries draining the more
densely-populated western side of the catchment, city stormwater drains, and
Cu-bearing antifoulants used in the marina. All trace metals were transported
in both "dissolved" and particulate form in the freshwater tributaries.
However, an estimated loading of metal transported by the lower Hatea River
under different flow regimes indicated that trace metals were predominantly
conveyed by coarse (>0.45 um) SPM during the periods of highest river
flow. Of the trace metals studied, Pb showed the strongest association with
coarse SPM and the greatest potential for accumulation in estuarine sediment,
demonstrating little tendency to be leached from sediment under simulated
estuarine conditions.
Keywords Hatea River; trace metals; source; transport
M98084
Received 7 December 1998; accepted 21 June 1999
PDF file of entire paper: medium quality (1792K); (scanned from paper original: notes about this process)
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